My First Paid Gig At Age 7

My Gramma and I have always been two peas in a pod. We were the best of pals. She would take me shopping every birthday, always take me out to eat, teach me how to play card games (and play them well), go to all my ballet recitals, and being the best Gramma that she was, she always made me feel very special and important. I grew up with her being a huge part of my childhood. We were at her house almost every weekend to help with gardening, canning, listening to endless "tractor talk", playing games, and just having the best time.

Living out in the country, her house was continually dusty from dirty farmers (primarily my Grandpa) coming in and out for coffee breaks and cookie snacks. She absolutely detested dusting her home because it seemed pointless and never-ending. One day when I was about seven years old, she offered to pay me five dollars to dust her entire house. She might as well have offered me a million dollars, because I had never been paid to clean before. Five dollars seemed like I could buy any toy at the store, and I was so excited! I dusted her knick knacks and furniture thoroughly making sure to not miss any spot so she would be proud of me. Once done with my dusting gig, she took me to Walmart later that day and I bought a Skipper doll with my five dollar bill. I still have that doll today, and thirty-two years later, my six year old little girl now has a chance to play with her.

Gramma must have been pleased with my dusting work because she had me dust about every time I came over to her house. Sometimes I would do it just for fun, because it felt like I was taking care of my Gramma's house...one of my favorite places to be and one of my favorite people on Earth. After we would finish with our chores, Gramma and I would go down to her basement and play ping pong while listening to music on her stereo. It's one of those memories I wish I could relive for just one day.

About six years ago, Gramma came down with dementia and I started coming over several times a month to help her clean her house again. But this time when I came over to Gramma's house, I came with my three sweet babies all under the age of five. While I was dusting all the same pieces of furniture and knick knaks that I grew up with, I had three babies following me around the house with a confused Gramma asking me about 20 questions per minute. At the time it was pure chaos, but looking back at those memories now, I wouldn't change it for anything. I'm so thankful that my Gramma got to meet my kids and my kids got to meet her. I loved taking care of her.

Last night, God decided to take Gramma home to rejoin my Grandpa and to have the best eternal celebration. My heart is extremely heavy with grief at the loss of my Gramma, she was so important to me, but I know I will see her again someday. While I'm preparing my heart for her funeral in a couple days, I wanted to dedicate Kelly's Country Squawk in loving memory of her. Besides my parents, she was my biggest cheerleader and biggest fan all throughout my life. Because of her, I'm the woman I am today.

I deeply believe that God has a plan for everyone, and His plan for me was revealed when my oldest son came down with the stomach bug at school yesterday. Our school has a firm 24 hour policy about being cleared from all cooties before returning, so Brock and I are at home today. God must have known I needed a day off to mourn and to take care of my son. What do I do on a day off after my Gramma has passed away? I dusted my entire house from head to toe thinking about her every time I sprayed and smelled the Lemon Pledge on my furniture. Today was our last cleaning day together.

Thanks for reading my Country Squawk,

Kelly